Bristol History & Heritage

Although very much a modern European city, Bristol’s history goes back thousands of years. This is very visible from the eclectic mix of buildings lining the streets, some of which can be traced back to the origins of the small settling of Brigstow.

Bristol is a real melting pot of architecture through the ages from the ruins of the Norman castle in Castle Park, to the gothic masterpieces of Bristol Cathedral and St Mary Redcliffe. A stroll around the Georgian streets of Clifton and Redland is as picturesque as it is relaxing.

If you’re more interested in fossils, rocks and other gems however, head to Bristol Museum and Art Gallery for a walk through our natural history where some fascinating items found in nearby areas such as Mangotsfield are on display.

Bristol has an incredibly rich maritime history, being one of the major ports for trade. A visit to M Shed museum documents the history of Bristol or go below deck on the ss Great Britain, just one of Brunel's magnificent pieces of work. Both are a great family day out in Bristol.

The Heritage Pub Crawl is a great way to sample some local ales and ciders as you take in some of the history of Bristol. Look out for the poster in local shops.

Bristol has a number of walking tours and audio tours to help you to make the most of your time in Bristol and to see as much of the history and heritage of Bristol that interests you.

You can also purchase a range of history books and guides from our online shop.

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Ready for boarding, Aerospace Bristol tells the amazing story of Bristol’s world-class aerospace industry and gives you and your family the chance to step aboard a British icon, Concorde Alpha Foxtrot.

Berkeley Castle is a beautiful and historic Castle, begun in 1117 and still remains the home of the Berkeley family. It is a great day-out for all the family, hosting special events on bank holidays and during school holidays

Salisbury Cathedral is one of England’s finest and has the best preserved original 1215 Magna Carta. With Britain’s tallest spire, largest close and cloisters and oldest working mechanical clock it’s a must see!